TEXAS ELECTRONIC PERMITTING SYSTEM

Transcription

1 TEXAS ELECTRONIC PERMITTING SYSTEM Rebecca L. Villalba, Stormwater Team Leader Water Quality Division Texas Commission on Environmental Quality February 21, 2018

2 TPDES Stormwater General Permits Construction NOIs: 24,610 Waivers: 5 Industrial NOIs: 7,421 NECs: 2,780 Municipal Phase II NOIs: 504 Waivers: 77

3 Electronic Permitting - STEERS TCEQ receives and processes thousands of registrations and permit applications each year. TCEQ created the epermits system to automate the process of creating and managing authorizations, registrations and permits. STEERS is a vehicle to collect data electronically. STEERS provides a common framework and security for multiple agency programs that enable the regulated community to submit, reports, permits, and registrations electronically. STEERS meets EPA CROMERR requirements and requires users to establish an account and an electronic signature.

4 STEERS - State of Texas Environmental Electronic Reporting System Online application tool for public to be able to submit permit requests for various program types to TCEQ. TCEQ in-turn reviews these general permit applications and processes them accordingly. STEERS - e-permits/registrations and e-reporting

5 Why Was It Developed? epermits is actually two separate systems and the main reason to develop the system was two-fold: Internally - it allows staff to create and maintain electronic applications (processing paper forms). Externally it allows customers to select, complete, and submit an electronic application. With epermits in place, as of now: TCEQ has received and processed electronically: 57,843 Construction General Permit NOIs 8,269 Multi-Sector General Permit NOIs (first 5 years) The epermits system allows TCEQ to process a high volume of NOIs in a timely fashion.

6 What Programs are in epermits? epermits was created to serve the regulated community; for customers looking for various permitting needs with a quick and easy process. Users can seamlessly: Create New Authorizations Modify Existing Authorizations Renew Authorizations Terminate Authorizations Share/Access In-Progress Authorizations View Application documents including Certificates and Letters

7 Key Features of epermits Strictly follows Signature Authority Standards in federal and state rules One time account set up and authenticated sessions Seamless permit application process for any program type or general permit type - New, Renew, Modify, and Terminate Guided Task list details each section that needs to be entered by the user Copy information from an existing application with minimal data entry Help links to complete the application in a single session Customer Validations and potential duplicate checks Efficient search functionality and filtering techniques

8 epermits Usage 9000 CGP and MSGP Authorizations Paper epermits

9 Challenges User Characteristics Internet availability and customers ability to use computers. Customers are expected to have some knowledge of the program areas they use. STEERS Participation Agreement (SPA) requires a valid Texas drivers license Data Integrity Data is directly entered by the customer. The customer has a vested interest in entering the data correctly in the system. Data must meet several minimum validation standards before it can be submitted to the agency. Customer Validations against Secretary of State and Comptrollers databases.

10 Challenges Application specific: Missing site information or incorrect site addresses. Customers wait until the last minute to renew their applications. Failure to login successfully locks the account. Role based access preparer versus signatory.

11 Welcome to STEERS

12 Add Program Type

13 Access to Program Type

14 STEERS Participation Agreement (SPA)

15 STEERS Participation Agreement (SPA) cont d

16 Successfully Completed STEERS Account ER Added Storm Water General Permit Program Signed e-spa Now Ready to Prepare General Permit

17 Prepare Application - Select Application Type

18 Site Information

19 epay Payment Types Electronic Check (ACH) Credit Card

20 Permit Application Cycle Submit Complete Ready to Sign Ready to Submit Ready to Pay

21 Inside STEERS - Submissions

22 Summary Copy of Records Access Permit Notice of Intent (INOI- R) Approval Letter INOI- R TXR Permit application ER INOI- R Certificate

23 Present and Future Electronic Reporting Rule and General Permits All applications for general permits need to be submitted electronically 2016 Multi-Sector General Permit As of Sept. 1, 2017, requires that all applications be submitted electronically To date, have only received three paper applications with a valid electronic waiver 2018 Construction General Permit As of Sept. 1, 2018, will require that all applications be submitted electronically Stormwater Processing Center Less paper applications to process More time is required on customer service to assist customers using epermits Focusing on data cleanup

24 Contact Information: Rebecca L. Villalba, Team Leader Stormwater & Pretreatment Team Water Quality Division (Office)